Uncoupling device for car-couplings.



No. 633,700. Paten'ted 26, I899; w. L. PARK, 12. w. BAXTEB & w. R. McKEEN,

UNCOUPLING DEVICE FOR CAR COUPLINGS.

\Application filed July 12, 1899.)

(No Model.)

l/vi/bnmw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lVlTILIAM L. PARK, ROBERT W. BAXTER, AND \VILLIAM R. MCKEEN, JR, OF NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.

UNCOUPLING DEVICE FOR CAR-COUPLINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,700, dated September 26, 1899.

Application filed July 12,1899. Serial No. 723,575. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM L. PARK, ROBERT XV. BAXTER, and WILLIAM R. Mo- KEEN, J12, citizens of the United States, re-' siding at North Platte, in the county of Lincoln and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Uncoupling Devices for Oar-Couplings; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full,

IO clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention has for its obj eat the production of an uncoupling tool or device for carcouplings, and the type of coupling with which our improved uncoupler is intended to be used is that genus in which a pair of swingin g hooks engage each other to make the coupling.

2'0 The species of twin-hook couplings with which our improved uncoupler is particularly adapted for use is that known as the Millerhook coupling, the distinguishing features of which are two hooks arranged to swing in 2'5 horizontal planes and engage each other to effect the coupling. The uncoupler which we have invented and which forms the subjectmatter of this application is capable of use with either the earlier type of Miller-hook 3o coupling, in which the entire draw-bar, of which the hook is a part, swings, or with the later species, known as the swing-head Miller hook, in which the forward part of the draw-bar or hook portion of the coupling is 3 5 pivoted to the body of the draw-bar and held in alinement with such body portion by springs.

Heretofore the disengagement or uncoupling of twin-hook couplings of the character mentioned hereinbefore has been effected in some instances by the use of camblocks adapted to be operated by chains or levers, which force the hooks apart and out of engagement with each other. In other uncoupling devices pivoted detents or dogs which form a part of the coupler have been used, said detents being released and thrown into position to force the hooks apart when it is desired to disengage the couplings. Both of these means for efiecting the uncoupling of cars are open to some objections in practice, chief among which are the increased cost of production of a coupling having these uncoupling accessories, the manual labor incident to their use in throwing the hooks out of engagement, and,furthermore, the greater likelihood of derangement or breakage of the more or less complicated parts. The uncoupler which we have invented is quite distinct and separate from the coupler itself and does not depend for its efficiency on any special form of hook. It is intended to form a part of the train equipment and is of such a char= actor as to be readily carried by trainmen for immediate use at any point where it may be necessary or desirable to separate a train.

The labor incident to the use of the uncoup= ler which we have invented is reduced to a minimum, since the distinguishing feature of our invention is a construction which automatically effects the uncoupling of the cars,

.when the tool is in operative relation to the hooks immediately forward draft or pulling strain is exerted on the hooks. Not only does this automatic disengagement of the hooks render the work of uncoupling comparatively easy, but it also eliminates all danger of in jury to the one engaged in uncoupling.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of two hooks of the Millerhook type with the improved uncoupler in position just before the uncoupling movement of the hooks begins. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the hooks just at the completion of the uncoupling movement and as the disengagement of the hooks is substantially eifected. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the uncoupler and its handle. Fig. a is a sectional view of the device, showing its pivoted handle.

The uncoupler consists of a block or wedge 1, which, as shown, is made in the form of an isosceles triangle, the sides of which are at an angle of about seventy-five degrees to the horizontal. Said wedge 1 when placed between two hooks a a" will lie, as shown in Fig. 5 1, with one side against the face of one of the hooks a. The other side of the wedge 1 will, as shown, be at such an angle to the other hook a of the coupling as that the point of the hook will impinge against the side of the 10;

shown in Fig. 1.

wedge, and any pull on the coupling will cause the last-mentioned hook a to move laterally, the point of the hook sliding along the inclined side of the wedge 1 until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 2, when the disengagement of the coupling will be effected. The angle of the side of the wedge 1, against which the point of the hook a impinges and down which it slides, is what is known as the critical angle or approximately that-i. c., such an angle as that longitudinal strain or pull on the parts will be transformed to lateral movement by reason of the parts sliding past each other-the tendency to lateral movement being greater than the friction between the parts. By keeping the uncoupling-wedge oiled we find that no difficulty is experienced in causing the lateral movement and consequent disengagement of the hooks.

It will be apparent that it is immaterialfrom which side of the train the uncoupling device is inserted between the couplings, as its operation is the same. It will be seen also that the wedge may be in a position reversed from that shown relative to the operator or swung half around on its pivot and inserted between the couplings and yet be effective.

An operating-handle v2, having a suitable hand piece or grip 3, is provided, said handle 2 having the pivot portion 4 at its forward end, whichpasses through a hole in the said wedge 1 near its base and is either headed at its end 5, as shown, or held in place by any other suitable means-as, for example, by a cotter-pin or a nut. Said handle 2 is collared at 6 just above the pivot portion 4, so as that while the wedge 1 may swing freely around the pivot portion 4 of the handle 2 it cannot move lengthwise thereon. It is not absolutely necessary that the handle 2 and wedge 1 be pivotally connected, as the uncoupling device is effective when the two are rigidly joined. \Ve find, however, that the form shown, in which the parts move relative to each other, is preferable, for the reason that any tendency on the partof the wedge to jump if the coupling-hooks snap apart with suddenness and force is not transmitted to the handle, butis spent by the wedge 1 swinging idly about its pivot portion 4, and consequently no injurious wrench or twitch is received by the personmanipulating the uncoupler.

The improved uncoupler is used in the following manner: hen it is desired to uncouple a train at a certain point, a trainman provided with an uncoupling device goes to that particular point. The cars are then slackened back by backing the locomotive, and the couplings are eased up. lVhen the couplings are eased up by the slackening back of the train, the hooks of the couplings separate and the trainman drops the wedge 1 of the uncoupling device between the hooks (6 a, as

lVhen the uncoupler is in position, the signal is given to go ahead. The longitudinal pull on the coupling incident to the forward movement of the train causes a lateral shifting of the hooks and a disengagement of the coupling.

It will be understood that we do not limit our invention to the exact construction shown, as it may be varied somewhat within the limits of mechanical skill and equivalency without departing from the spirit of our invention, for

What we claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. An uncoupling tool or device for Millerhook car-couplings, adapted to be inserted between the coupling-hooks, and having an inclined surface against which one of said hooks impinges and down which it slides when longitudinal strain is exerted on the coupling, thereby causing lateral movement of said hook relative to its fellow and disen-, gagement of the coupling.

2. An uncoupling tool or device for Millerhook car-couplings, adapted to be inserted between the coupling-hooks, and having two inclined surfaces, one of which rests upon the face of one of said coupling-hooks, the point of the other hook impinging against the other inclined surface and sliding down it when longitudinal strain is exerted on the couplings, thereby causing lateral movement of said hook relative to its fellow and disengagement of the coupling.

3. An uncoupling tool or device for Millerhook car-couplings, comprising a block or wedge having an inclined side along which one of said couplings slides when said block is inserted between the couplings and longitudinal strain is exerted on the draw-bars,

and a handle by meansof which said wedge may be inserted between the coupling-hooks.

4.. An uncoupling tool or device for Miller hook car-couplings, comprising a block or wedge having two inclined sides which give an inclined surface along which one of said co uplings slides 'under longitudinal strain when said block is inserted between the couplings, and a handle by means of which said wedge may be inserted between the couplinghooks.

5. An uncoupling tool or device for Millerhook car-couplings, comprising a block or wedge having two inclined sides which give an inclined surface along which one of said couplings slides under longitudinal strain when said block is inserted between the couplings, and a handle pivoted to said wedge by means of which it may be inserted between the coupling-hooks.

6. An uncoupling tool or device for Millerhook carcouplings consisting of a triangularshaped block or wedge adapted to be inserted between the couplings and cause their lateral separation under longitudinal strain, said block having a handle by means of which it may be inserted between the coupling-hooks.

'7. An uncoupling tool or device for Miller- I In testimony whereof we affix our signahook car-couplings consisting of a triangularl tures iii-presence of two Witnesses. shaped block or Wedge adapted to be inserted WILLIAM L. PARK. between the couplings and cause their lateral ROBERT XV. BAXTER. separation under longitudinal strain, said YVILLIAM R. MOKEEN, JR. block having a handle pivoted thereto by XVitnesses: 1 means of which it may be inserted between B. E. CHENEY, the coupling-hooks. F. L. MOONEY. 

